KIRKLAND, Wash -- The Seattle Seahawks cut cornerback Andre Dyson and linebacker Jamie Sharper on Thursday and got more time to work on a new contract for NFL MVP Shaun Alexander.

The cuts saved the Seahawks over $6.7 million against the league's $94.5 million salary cap for 2006 and left them about $13 million below the cap for now. The room could be key to the team's hopes for re-signing Alexander and other key veterans like wide receiver Joe Jurevicius, Pro Bowl fullback Mack Strong or sack leader Rocky Bernard. All are potential free agents.

The Seahawks also got some extra time to re-sign Alexander when the league extended its deadline for free agency by three days. Seattle now has until Monday to get a deal done with the league rushing champion.

"Our talks with the club will continue -- now, for the next three days instead of the next few hours," Alexander's agent, Jim Steiner, said Thursday evening in a telephone interview from St. Louis.

Four weeks ago, Steiner said the two sides were "far away" in talks on an extension -- which Seahawks owner Paul Allen, coach Mike Holmgren and Alexander himself have all said they expect to complete. Steiner said Thursday that the sides have made progress in the last month and are still talking.

Dyson, signed as a free agent from Tennessee before last season, would have counted $4.26 million against the team's 2006 salary cap. His release means the NFC champions have, for now, settled on veteran Kelly Herndon as their starting left cornerback opposite Marcus Trufant.

Dyson, a five-year veteran from Utah, started seven games for Seattle last season -- including the Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh. He missed six games with a strained right hamstring and then a sprained left ankle.

Sharper, 31, started the first eight games of last season at outside linebacker before getting a staph infection in his right knee. He eventually went on the season-ending injured-reserve list. Rookie linebacker Leroy Hill excelled in his place, making Sharper and the $17.5 million, five-year contract he signed last April expendable.

With the $1.5 million signing bonus Sharper received in that deal, he would have counted just over $2.5 million against the Seahawks' cap this season.

The Seahawks also released cornerback Michael Harden, a former practice-squad player who was active for the final four games of the 2005 regular season.

Hawk Believer

03-03-2006, 09:50 AM

I am not that worried about losing Sharper; Hill looks like he has a great future. But a healthy Dyson will be missed. You all saw what awful mistakes our secondary made when we didn't have Hamlin and Manuel and Dyson were injured (the Parker run, the gadget, that infermal 3rd and 254 completion:dang: ). Hernden is OK but I think he is still a #2.

DIESELMAN

03-05-2006, 10:55 PM

UPDATE:
Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms on an eight-year contract with RB Shaun Alexander. The deal is reportedly worth $62 million and includes in excess a total of $15 million in bonuses and salary the first year. It is not known how the deal is structured with regards to how much cap space the deal takes up in the first year of the contract. Alexander was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent March 6.

augustashark

03-06-2006, 12:13 AM

They know how their bread is buttered! Good move on their part. They could not afford to lose Alexander.

Petesburgh66

03-06-2006, 12:16 AM

The deal is done. Seattle better not expect him to play until he is 36. This contract could come back to bite Seattle in the ass if the cap is still in place.

Large_Ant

03-06-2006, 01:43 AM

The deal is done. Seattle better not expect him to play until he is 36. This contract could come back to bite Seattle in the ass if the cap is still in place.
I'm pretty sure they were just spreading the contract out. I don't think anyone has any delusions that somebody is gonna play that position until they're 37. My understanding is that it's 15 million in guaranteed money that will amount to a 3.75 million cap hit in bonus money over the first four years. Not bad. Just need to see what the base money is on it.